Baby It's Cold outside!

Nostrils freezing with every breath, car tires crunching the snow, whiteness has enveloped everything. At first light in the morning, the earth has an erethral, glistening quality to it, seeming to shroud all life with it's spirit. It seems magical, but Brrrrr! Baby it's cold outside. The temp read -28 degrees farenheit this am.

That being said, I am so happy to be travelling to visit my Mom down in Florida. DH and I are leaving Monday! Yippee! The funniest thing though occurred when we were purchasing our airline tickets at the ticket booth in the airport terminal.

Me: We'd like to purchase round trip tickets to Florida leave on Monday and return in February. (Of course I gave the specific dates).

Ticket Agent: Okay, yes it's available for 2 adults, price going down is $79.00 and the return trip is $29.00 each (I knew this, because we checked out the best prices on the internet before we went there).

Me; Great, we'll take them

TA: Seats are $15 - $25.00, where do you want to sit?

ME: Your kidding, (I was discreetly looking around thinking there was a hidden camera somewhere) Could I look at the schematics of the plane, then I'll let you know?

TA: We don't do that, just let me know if there is any where specifically that you'd like to sit.

ME: Well, we would like the emergency exit seat to have leg room (I broke my ankle a couple of years ago and being long legged, I truly love to be able to stretch out my legs for a 3+ hour ride especially).

TA: Okay, that'll be $25.00 each, for each direction. (By this piont, I'm laughing, I can't believe that when you buy a ticket, you then have to by a "seat".) Are you bringing any luggage?

ME: Yes, we'll have 2.

TA: Okay that's $30.00 per piece of luggage, what about him (as she directs her attention to my DH)?

Me: Yes he'll have luggage too, but we each will have 1 bag to check and 1 bag as a carryon. I'm still chuckling, I can't believe all the add ons)

This rapport continued in this vein with several other items. Sufficit to say, the total came close to $400.00 for 2 people with round trip tickets and having SEATS as well as carrying luggage. Hehe! I still find humor in it. It really isn't a bad price, but what a racket. Why don't they just charge a fair price and call it that without all the extras that need to be added.

So, with the trip coming up so quickly, I've been setting all up, travel arrangements, car rentals, travelers checks, prescriptions with over-rides, etc..... Next on my list is cleaning my house. I love travelling, but I also love to come home to a clean house, including fresh sheets. So tomorrow, paper work, house work, recycleables returned and make a soup out of the leftover vegetables in the fridge, besides watching a 1 month old grandson in am. Sunday, will take care of the laundry, make lemon poppy seed muffins for my read and bead group which meets in the afternoon, need to make 2 valentine postcards and send out some mail to friends as well as my penalty squares for buying fabric when I was on the No-Buy Challenge list in Stashbusters. Leaving the packing and changing the sheets on Monday before we leave. Ooooh, I love being organized! Sunshine state, here we come! Stay Well and Warm!

Jane

Happy New Year 2009!

Have been feeling really good about finishing some UFO's that I've been concentrating on. I just finished my 12th Redwork Santa. Yippee!
I've carried these embroideries all over the country as we have vacationed and even on the back deck. The plan is to create a Christmas Quilt with them since DH collects Santas. Besides the red and white in the santa blocks, I'll be using a black and a yellow-orange fabric in the quilt too. EQ5 helped me to create a quilt that appeals to me. Now that the embroideries are done, I'll be working on the rest of the top shortly. Need to finish some other UFO's that are already on the sewing cabinet first.
Another finish is a counted cross stitch bread cloth. I think this was started about 10 years ago and was put aside for some reason. Can't remember now why! When I pulled it out, it only needed about 3 more hours of work and it was finished. Another WhoooHoooo! I think I'll be giving this to a friend that does alot of baking.

One other finish is the jungle print fleece throw that I hand stitched the hem on the edge of using a DMC#8 thread for my new grandson, here I lovingly call him PGS#3. It is about 1.25 yards by 60" wide, so really too large for an infant, but while checking with my daughter on what size she wanted me to make it, this is what she requested. TaDah.....DONE!


Currently, I'm working on a Noah's Ark Embroidery. I'm on the 3rd block. Have all the patterns except for the last two that Lynette Anderson has shared. The other two will be coming out in the next month or two, so am hoiping that I'll catch up now that the Santas are done.

The following quilt is a kit and that my friend Catherine from Montreal did. It is a beauty. Her colors are fantastic! The quilter, I call "a sister, from another Mother, from another Country" which is our own personal joke when we reconnect, she's a treasure. If I don't call her this first, then she calls me by that name too. What a hoot.

I love the connectedness of the internet. I'm inspired by many crafty and talented quilters. When contemplating what resolutions I would have for 2009 I realised that I am spending too much time on the computer.....so my plan is to limit my computer time. Perhaps to only 1/2 hour a day. If alot of mail, maybe another 1/2 hour after DH retires. He's usually in bed by 7:00pm and I'm awake until 11-12. so I try to be quiet. Read. watch TV, hand sew....
Besides that, I need to reassert myself with my movements. With the hospital events last month between DH, our daughter and myself, my fitness plan was shelved. DH was sick for a week starting at Christmas time and then he passed the "flu" to me. I feel okay but I sound like a barking seal while coughing. It seems to have slid into my lungs and botheing my asthma, so will be contacting the Dr's tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to be seen while in town for my hair appointment.

Stay well and create,
Jane


PS: Adding this on March 1, 2009:
Realizing I need to clean up the front page of this blog journal, so I need ot list the completed projects done in 2008.
They are:

Beaded counted cross stitch candy dish
5/4 apron
Halloween Sweatshirt
Flying chicken pincushion
Autumn Song Quilt
Stippling Skillbuilder POstage Stamp Basket Table Topper
Dance Bag for PG#1
Simpson's Pillow case for PGS#2
Beaded set; necklace and matching earrings
Wove basket for quilts in Living Room (Also doubles as a doll basinet)
Wove Basket for ongoing knit projects
The Professional Tote

There probably is more, but with starting the blog in the fall and reading what I had listed, this is all I can truly remember. We'll see if 2009 is more productive, I hope so. Stay Well and CREATE!

Tribute to a gentle giant

My dear Uncle Don passed away yesterday. He was a kind, dedicated, honorable, large and very determined man. There are so many attritubes that he collected in his 81 years young, that it is with relief and sadness I am posting this. Gainfully employed his whole life, with the traditional dedicated wife and children. Thereby followed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For the most part he was a man who kept to himself. Sharing a few intellectual and insightful words here and there, BUT don't anybody even think of crossing that man. That would be when the determination that runs through our family line will rear it's head very quickly and THAT is THAT! End of subject.
His life ended without him really knowing all who loved him. Alhzeimers is such a terrible, unforgiving and encroaching disease. Robbing a family of a person well before the body starts giving up. He will be missed. I'll end this as he always did when we were parting. "Janie, You be good now."

Holiday Gathering Successful

I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday, whatever religious traditions you lean towards. On Christmas Eve, we were able to attend the candle light service for church. Our daughter and her family also went, so it was even more special with our precious granddaughter at church with us.
Christmas day was uneventful and normally paced. All of our family came for dinner at 5:30, that was followed by gift exchanges around the tree shortly afterwards. A splendid time was had by all! Our menu was super easy this year. Not trying to outdo any recipes, we purchased frozen lasagna and garlic bread. Yummy and easy! Perfect. Note to self....keep things easy so you can really enjoy without any added stress!
With the Near Year coming along so quickly, I am thinking about what, if any new positive changes I chould/should embrace, besides trying to maintain the healthier life styles choices I've already implemented.
The guild my Mom belongs to is having their UFO challenge again this year. I'll be posting my UFOs on a future posting. Hopefully with this year's challenge I'll be able to keep up with the pace. Last years', I did complete 1 UFO (the postage stamp basket stippling skillbuilder)and attempted to finish one other UFO, I still need to finish that one though! Total count was five, so most people would say I failed horribly, but being the optimist I am, I say yeah! 1 more UFO down! How's that for self delusion! HeHeHe. Stay Well.

Jane

Merry Christmas!

Getting ready for the Holidays have always been very hectic and tiring for me, but not this year. All the packages have been sent and all are wrapped, now to get to the Christmas cards today. Usually I have multi-tasked to get everything done but this year, I've been able to stay with one task until completed where then I'll get to the next project. It is very pleasing to say...thats all done, now this is all done... I love this time of year. There is a Christmas Coral this evening at a nearby church that I want to see this evening.

Much has happened since my last post. My DH had a pacemaker replacement, I've had 2 different surgical procedures and my daughter has a new son. What a large little guy he is. He weighed over 9lb! Mom and he are both healthy and happy. Our computer, in the den has hit a wall and our digital camera was broke on our way home from my brothers house over the Thankgiving Holiday. So was able to purchase a new camera, BUT the computer won't allow any more increases in space for this type of software program to run. It is being replaced since it's over 9 years old. So I'll post pictures of PGS#3 when our electronic woes are fixed. I think I may hold on to the old upgraded computer for my sewing room. I will have to rearrange all of it to accomodate it, so we'll see. Just a muse at this point.

Creatively, was able to rip out all the stitches of the waffletime runner, however haven't made the time for much sewing with every thing else going on. Hopefully I find a little time today for some. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Jane

Happy Thanksgiving

A time of family, good food and gratitude, Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite days. I do hope that yours is full of festive fellowship.

I am happy for an opportunity to reflect on the things that I am truly grateful for at this time of the year. My family, home, country, freedom(s), health, love, friends (including my Personal fitness instructor!), passions, intelligence and the limitless possibilities this life has offered. We are so blessed to live in this interesting time and this country. So much has been developed when you see the great strides technology has gone through and I wonder, what next? With all the improvements in electronics, health technology, economics and time saving strategies I am be fuddled as to why I am so tired so often. Is it the side effects of all the meds the Drs. have me on for my back and shoulder injury? Even that, thank goodness the medicines are available and here again we are blessed with a good prescription coverage when not covered by the workers comp. prescription plan. My DH keeps saying, "Enjoy the Golden years honey". I am trying to get some energy back and have noticed a slight improvement since I joined the local gym and have been working out more regularly. Hopefully I'll be able to get some of my old mojo back.

Well, may your Thanksgiving be all that you imagine. Stay safe and keep love in your hearts.

Jane

Progressing

I am so satisfied but sore! I was able to meet my personal trainer 2 times this past week. We met on Tuesday and she adapted many exercies to alleviate problems from my back injury. Despite that, by the time I got home after a couple of errands I hurt so bad I went to bed. The next day I did 12 minutes on my elliptical, So we met again on Thursay. I was actually hobbling into the Y to meet her. After moving for awhile the pain eases somewhat, so I was able to do the exercises on that day. We are targeting different areas with each meeting. Usually we start with an aerobic activity such as walking or biking then move on and do weights. Typically a light weight with 2 sets of 8 or 10 repetitions. It has been wonderful. This week I will be joining the Gym. I need to put myself first instead of all my family's commitments. I know I am not the only woman and mother that has done this. I am trying to instill in my daughter to make time for herself. I know I was a horrible example in this, so I am trying to let her know the best example is to live it for her daughter. That she needs to break that family trend!

I was able to get the table runner totally woven and did get the fabric borders selected for it and have pre washed all. Now to get to it. Maybe I could FOCUS on that and have it done so I could hand sew the binding on while travelling to my brothers' home in Rhode Island for Thanksgiving.
Recently, I quilted my waffle time runner which I backed with Kaffe Fassett Westminister fabrics, to make it reversible. I love the fabrics and the design of quilting I used. It was from Kim Stotsenberg, Just Leaf It design. But Yuck! My stitches were horrible... so have been ripping them out to have a redo on the quilting! Well TaTa for now!

Jane

Stitcher's angel gifts received!

I received some wonderful gifts in the mail the other day from My stitcher's angel that Helen set up for a swap. My angel is a friend from Hungary named Anita that made some items for me and also sent a Hungarian crafter's magazine too. They are all beautiful and made very nicely. My gifts were all contained in an envelope of squishy items so I couldn't wait to tear into it. The first thing I found was the lovely stitching bag. It is bright yellow with bright yellow embroidery showing an angel noting to "take time to smell the flowers". How did she know I like flowers? It also came with a flower shaped pin cushion in the same yellow fabric, a nice needle book with an embroidery saying "Taking care of you needles" with an angels' head and wings centered over it, besides a scissor holder with a twisted cord for tying my scissors on to. This also has an angel on one side with the saying "Taking care of you scissors" on the other, what a clever stitcher my angel is. When I saw this pattern on the web it showed a cat embroidered, not my favorite animal by far, especially since I'm allergic to them. Anita D from Hungary, my stitcher's angel did an outstanding job on all of these items. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I wish I wasn't having these computer memory difficulties. Urgggggh! Well enjoy your day, I'm especially enjoying mine, so now I'm off to stitch a little.

Jane

Shopping my stash

Last night I went to class #2 on the star weave table runner. I was able to finish the weave and got as far as pinning down the perimeter. While figuring the gold and black stars would be appropriate to have out on New Years Eve and also during Halloween, I figure I'll make this reversible.
So shopping in my stash I found a black with gold scrolling throughout for the New Year's Eve borders on one side, but alas, not enough Halloween fabric for the other side. :-( I had one that would have been perfect but only had 1/4 yard. Not enough. Contemplated what to do and so during my musings read my email. Fat quarter shop has a 50% discount on Halloween fabric. I am on the stashbuster's No-Buy Challenge which means I am not to buy any additional fabric because it's a sale or because I like it or even want to do a new project. I only can buy "B" fabrics. They are: Borders, Backing, binding, background, and batting. Yippee. I won't break my vow and I can legally buy border fabric and it's even on sale! SO I did order 2 yards of a suitable novelty fabric, that I think will work. It's always so hard to tell the exact coloring though when ordering online.


Regarding my movements and trying to become healthier I'd like to share some excitement. Since it was my Birthday this past week, I decided to give myself a present. Several weeks ago at a wedding, a lady I know has been taking classes and trying to become a personal fitness trainer. She was looking for a "Guinea Pig" to try out her style and technique with some honest feedback. She approached me at the wedding. With having a couple of glasses of wine and my back bothering me, I did not respond either way... I told her I'd think about it. Well I called her on Monday. Yes, she was still looking for someone. We met at the mall and walked it, then had coffee and tea to discuss the highlights and expectations. It is a go. I am thrilled. We met again on Thursday and walked in the local park that I like to walk the trails at. Disappointed here though, the landowners had posted signs all over and are leasing the land out for lumbering. The trails that have always been so nice are now logging trails through the woods. Despite that, we did walk probably a little over a mile.
Today I walked by myself about 1.25 miles. I am going to be giving myself a little gift when I reach a short term goal of walking 20 miles. (Donna's idea). She also has wonderful insight and highly suggests for me to get out of the house to exercise. (This is something my Mom and Sisters have been telling me for years)So we will meet at the gym on Tuesday. She obtained a week's pass at the local YMCA for me. I am so pysched, my own personal trainer. I'm feeling very wonderful and special by doing this.



My quilting is progressing along nicely too. I did finish PGD#1 little Dance Bag. Her Mom wanted e to make a little bag to hold a change of clothes, tap shoes and her ballet shoes. So I followed a patterned tote in the book, Quilted Bags and Totes. Here is the finished tote. I love the way I quilted it. The top portion is stippled with a meander, while on the bottom I did a loopy loop with 5 pointed stars inserted sporatically. My stitches are really well done and I am quite happy. So is PGD, she saw it today and was holding it over her shoulder like a "big girl" going shopping.

Enjoy!
Jane

Election Day

Today, history is being made. I do wonder what direction this country will go in. Being an optimist, I believe all things are possible, yet at the same time believe each one of us makes a difference. We all contribute positively, negatively or if no preferences made, then we each add to the burden of others, thereby without our input, makes a difference.
I want to be a positive being in all I do. I feel like I always try to maintain myself with grace and dignity. Usually when I'm faced with challenges, its difficult for me to move forward. Although I feel I do move forward just with my thinking and appraising a situation. Recently friends sent me a distressing email. I truly was surprised at the flavor of the note. My response was to clarify my intention and to soothe their egos and yet personally I have written them off. When hurt by something or someone, I'll forgive them but, I will no longer hold them close or to trust them again. So this friendship will be now of my convenience, if it is to be at all. They did once hold a dear place in my heart and were good for me and my family when I needed them and when they also needed me. But clearly that time is no more. It is time to continue moving forward.
My stitcher's angel gifts were received by Cuny from the Netherlands. In this blog you can see her or it might be her daughter Karen, modelling her apron. I am so glad she likes the gifts I made for her. I truly enjoyed this swap and am so glad I was able to fulfill it so pleasantly.
Well, I have a sick grandchild here today who is yelling MeMe! So I'll go comfort her. Enjoy your day. Today DH and I will vote, then go on to visit PGS#1 at his school. His birthday was the day before Halloween when we were in VT at a Cooking show and couldn't visit him, so we'll celebrate with him tonight.
Take Care.

Jane